Method of construction.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES C. MEEM, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO FREDERICK L. ORANFORD AND ONE-THIRD TO WALTER V. ORANFORD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW vYORK.

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 14, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES OMEEM, a citizen of the United States, residing at the borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Construction, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a method of partially submerged construction, and more particularly has reference to a method whereby foundations, tunnels, or other structures, or, portions of structures, partly above and partly below the water, may be safely constructed.

In carrying out the method of the invention, a preliminary excavation is made down to the water level and preferably is somewhat larger than the tunnel or foundation to be constructed. Within this excavation, sheeting or iling forming a fixed caisson, is set up and riven to a level below the water level, leaving a stationary portion thereof extending above the water level. This stationary portion is air proofed and Weighted so as to form a caisson where necessary, and provided With the usual air locks and other apparatus. Having erected this caisson, it is now possible to excavate from the interior, under air pressure where necessary, to hold back the water, in the usual manner. In going to a greater depth than the sheeting first driven, additional sheeting and bracing are driven on the forward end in such manner as not to restrict the clear space, so that the interior of the caisson has a certain minimum area and is protected from caving in. In this manner it is possible to extend the caisson as the excavationproceeds, leaving the top at all times fixed,-and with such method, excavations can be made through non-homogeneous soils where ordinary caissons could not be driven by reason of obstructions preventin their movement.

The invention wi be more fully understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional view showing a tunnel or foundation in course of construction, wherein the excavation is made down to the water level and the stationary caisson and air looks are in place ready for the interior excavation.v

Referring to the figure, A represents the ground in which the tunnel or foundation is to be commenced or built, and B represents the water level therein, either the normal Water level or a temporarily lowered Water level produced by pumping. k

C represents an excavation made down to the water level B, and shored up or braced by sheet piling D and cross braces E. Within this excavation C are driven sheet piles F closely together, around the's ace to be excavated under the water leve B, and these piles F are braced by horizontal braces G, in the usual manner. The top of the piles F is leveled off and provided with a waling H, and secured to the piles and the waling is a roof I, provided-with one or more shafts J having the usual air locks and air pipes therein. The roof I is made to be stationary and for this pur ose may be loaded with timbers or concrete to resist the u ward reaction of the air pressure and may e braced within the piles F by braces L. I The piles F having been driven, the roof put on, and the space above the water level B air roofed in the usual manner, the interior of t e caisson can now be excavated, under air if necessary, or the water kept back by excavation goes onward, t e si es of the caisson will be braced, and when the excavation has reached the bottoms of the piles, in case it is desired to go further, additional piles or sides M will be added as the excavation proceeds. M are made of somewhat shorter sections of sheet piling driven downwardly and outwardly at an incline, and having the joints closed, as by concrete N, and suitably braced, so that the whole forms a" rigid structure. In doing this, the water and the ground, such as quick sand or mud, may be held back by the air ressure. When the excavation has procee ed in this manner as far downward as is desired, it will be filled up, in the case of a foundation, or lined, as in the case of a tunnel or subway.

It will be seen that by this method, it is un necessary to move the whole caisson as the work progresses, which is an expensive and objectlonable process. In forcing built-up caissons as the excavation proceeds, and especially in soils containing boulders, the

rogress of the Whole caisson may be stopped by a boulder, whereas by this metho of driving iles, only those piles which strike the boul er will be stopped and the others can be driven as far as is desirable. After the um ing. As the These additional sides or extensions interior has been excavated to the rock, it can be broken up and removed, or a new set of piles can be driven onward from around the rock. In this manner, excavations can be which are built in the direction of the excavation as it proceeds, the water and soil being held back by air pressure where necessary.

The general characteristic of this method, resides in the manner of building a partially submerged structure by means of a caisson or section built as the interior excavation roceeds, the roof being built and fixed once or all. The expense of building a tunnel or sub-aqueous structure is thus very greatly reduced, and this method will also be of advantage in situations where the overhead space for the erection of an ordinary caisson is limited.

A further advantage of the method resides in the caisson itself, which is built up of sections driven longitudinally of the excavation to the extent desired, so that the progress of the caisson as a whole is not hindered by obstructions at portions thereof. By driving the piling forming the forward sections in an outwardly inclined direction, an indefinite number of sections can be added on without decreasing the interior area of the caisson, and this is an important consideration, as much unnecessary excavation is thereby saved.

It will further be observed that the roof is at all times above the water level, while the actual excavation is below.

It will be understood that the specific construction of caisson and the manner of building up the same, herein described, is for purposes of illustration only, and that the method can be carried out by' other arrangements without departing from the scope of the invention.

It will also be understood that I do not restrict myself to any particular location of the air locks, which are shown herein in the fixed roof, as these may be located in the side walls, or elsewhere if desired, without all'ecting or departing from the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I declare that what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s1- 1. A method. of building a pneumatic cats- I son for excavation, which consists in driving made under water by means of caissons' side walls from above below the level ol the water, building a fixed roof thereon, and extending the sides from the forward end as the excavation proceeds.

2. A method of building a pneumatic caisson consisting in building a lixed air prool' top section extending from below the water level upward, and extending the -aisson from the water level downward by inclined sections in advance of the excavation.

3. A method of making a sub-aqueous excavation which consists in building a lixed air proof caisson extending from below the water level upwards, preventing rise of water within the caisson, and extending the caisson forwardly by additional sections in the direction of and in advance of the ex avation.

4. A method of building a pneumatic caisson consisting in forming a caisson ol' driven sheeting or piling to a penetration below the level of the water, attaching a fixed rool' thereto above the water level, providing a shaft therein, and sheeting at the forward end in advance of the excavation.

5. A method of building a pneumatic caisson consisting in forming a. caisson of driven sheeting or piling to a penetration below the level of the water, attachinga fixed roof thereto above the water level, providing a shaft for the caisson, sheeting at the forward end in advance of the excavation, and applying air pressure.

6. A caisson composed of a stationary top, and inclined sections built on at the bottom as the excavation proceeds.

7. A caisson composed of a stationary top fixed to withstand air pressure, and sections built on at the bottom as the. excavation proceeds, and sealed at the junctions.

in testimony whereof I, allix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES MICEM.

\Vitnesses:

Qmx A. Fos'rnn, JULIAN S. Woos'rnn. 

